Public Health in Practice最新文献

{"title":"Developing healthy attitudes to evidence through the health determinants research collaborations (HDRCs)","authors":"A. Levitas , E. Taylor , P.L. Navelle , E. Humphreys , J. Sheringham","doi":"10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100629","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100629","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":34141,"journal":{"name":"Public Health in Practice","volume":"10 ","pages":"Article 100629"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144572587","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Female genital schistosomiasis in Ghana: An exploration of knowledge, attitudes, and practice among women of reproductive age","authors":"Comfort D. Tetteh ,&nbsp;Alfred K. Manyeh ,&nbsp;Jabulani R. Ncayiyana ,&nbsp;Themba G. Ginindza","doi":"10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100632","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100632","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>Female genital schistosomiasis (FGS) affects about 11 % of women of reproductive age in Ghana. The disease remains insignificant and poorly understood in endemic communities and healthcare professionals across Sub-Saharan Africa. The objective was to assess the knowledge, attitudes, and practices among women of reproductive age towards FGS.</div></div><div><h3>Study design</h3><div>A cross-sectional design based on mixed-method approach was conducted in two schistosomiasis endemic districts in Ghana, Lower Manya-Krobo and Shai Osudoku districts.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The study surveyed 856 women of reproductive age and conducted focused group discussions with 88 opinion leaders, adolescent girls, and women of reproductive age in 20 communities along the Volta Lake. A descriptive analysis, Chi-square test, and inferential statistics were employed on the survey data using STATA SE-18, while thematic analysis was used for the qualitative content using NVivo 20.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The findings revealed that many of the participants had poor knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to FGS, with the Lower Manya-Krobo exhibiting slightly worse scores than Shai Osudoku. Only 17.9 % had heard of FGS before among the 856 participants, and factors such as age above 40 years (AOR6.91, 95 %CI:1.98, 11.84, p &lt; 0.00), 6–10 years stay in community (AOR3.22, 95 %CI:0.49, 5.94, p &lt; 0.00), farmers (AOR9.69, 95 %CI:6.23, 13.17, p &lt; 0.00) statistically predicted knowledge in SOD. Compared to LMK, all age groups, farmers (AOR15.95, 95 %CI:11.72, 20.24, p &lt; 0.00), and heard of FGS (AOR-5.42, 95 %CI: 8.51, −2.34, p &lt; 0.00) influenced their knowledge, attitudes, and practices. The poor knowledge, attitudes, and practices and financial constraints were major barriers that led to self-treatment and delay in seeking care from hospitals.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The study highlighted significant gaps in KAP towards FGS among women in LMK and SOD districts. These findings reflect broader challenges observed in other schistosomiasis-endemic regions, where inadequate education, financial barriers, and limited healthcare infrastructure hinder the effective management of FGS. Addressing these gaps is crucial to improving reproductive health issues and calls for enhanced community-based health education, improved healthcare facility capabilities and resources, training healthcare professionals, and the development of context-specific strategies to address the identified gaps to improve FGS case reporting and management.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34141,"journal":{"name":"Public Health in Practice","volume":"10 ","pages":"Article 100632"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-26","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144580595","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Short Communication: What interest and influence do Directors of Public Health in London have in local gambling policy?","authors":"Jenny Blythe Dr","doi":"10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100635","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100635","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objectives</h3><div>Gambling harms are increasingly conceptualised as a public health issue, affecting not only the individual who gambles but those close to them and to wider society too. However, the Gambling Act 2005 gives public health teams no statutory role in decisions by local councils on ‘land-based’ gambling licensure, unlike alcohol premises licensing where public health teams are a responsible authority. We surveyed Directors of Public Health in London to gain understanding of their interest and influence in local gambling policy.</div></div><div><h3>Study design</h3><div>a survey was created in conjunction with representatives from London public health teams and disseminated via an online platform. It was sent to Directors of Public Health in all 32 London boroughs.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Survey questions were a mixture of fact-finding questions about the public health teams structure (including staff number) and Likert scale questions about their interest and influence in gambling policy, using comparator questions with alcohol policy (where public health teams have a formal role).</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>the response rate for the survey was 28 %. The place of public health teams within individual councils varies widely, as does the number of Full-Time Equivalent staff members. There was positive correlation between a public health teams perceived influence on alcohol and gambling policy. Public health teams identified a wide number of existing effective partnerships within their organisations.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>The findings suggest that it is public health team integration rather than pure legislative factors that influence their involvement in local gambling policy. Existing effective partnerships, particularly licensing and planning, should be harnessed to further integrate public health teams into decision-making.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34141,"journal":{"name":"Public Health in Practice","volume":"10 ","pages":"Article 100635"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144563985","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A systematic review of the pivotal role of environmental toxicant exposure on infectious diseases in low- and middle-income countries","authors":"Rehnuma Haque ,&nbsp;Md Shariful Islam ,&nbsp;Molly Hanson ,&nbsp;Md. Zamiur Rahaman ,&nbsp;Sadia Afrin ,&nbsp;Sristi Shome ,&nbsp;Mahbubur Rahman ,&nbsp;Syed Moshfiqur Rahman ,&nbsp;KM Saif-Ur-Rahman ,&nbsp;Rubhana Raqib","doi":"10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100631","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100631","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Objective</h3><div>The objective of this review is to identify which environmental toxicants are linked to infectious diseases in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) by synthesizing available evidence. It aims to summarize key findings, identify research gaps and provide policy recommendations based on the associations between specific toxicants and disease outcomes.</div></div><div><h3>Study design</h3><div>Systematic review.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We conducted a comprehensive search in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science (core collection), and CENTRAL (the Cochrane Library) to identify studies on bacterial, viral, and parasitic pathogenic activity.</div></div><div><h3>Result</h3><div>This search yielded 11,468 studies, of which 55 met inclusion criteria after screening following the standard methods. A consistent association is found between particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10) exposure and increased respiratory infection risk, with PM2.5 particularly linked to increased incidence and mortality in diseases like COVID-19 and tuberculosis. Heavy metals, including lead, cadmium, and mercury worsen chronic infections such as HIV/AIDS and hepatitis by increasing body burden and inflammation. The review highlights air pollutants’ substantial impact on infectious disease spread and severity while noting a research gap on other pollutants including persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). Bias assessment indicates around half the studies show low risk of bias; however, potential biases were noted in confounding variables and blinding of outcome assessment.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>The systematic review emphasizes the need for research on biological mechanisms underlying these associations and the impacts of other pollutants. Findings advocate for reducing environmental pollution exposure in LMICs to mitigate infectious disease risk.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34141,"journal":{"name":"Public Health in Practice","volume":"10 ","pages":"Article 100631"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144580596","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Socio-economic health inequalities through the lens of social justice theory, an innovative perspective","authors":"Jantien van Berkel,&nbsp;Michèlle Bal","doi":"10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100630","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100630","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Socioeconomic health inequalities, characterized by avoidable, systematic, and unfair differences in health between social groups based on socioeconomic disparities, persist in Western countries despite extensive efforts. This situation prompts a critical examination of current public health interventions. While individual-focused approaches emphasize behavioral strategies to address avoidable factors, and systems approaches target systematic causes, there remains a significant gap in addressing one crucial aspect of health inequalities: their inherent unfairness.</div></div><div><h3>Study design</h3><div>In this contribution, we conduct a theoretical exemplification.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Distributive, procedural, and recognitive justice theory has been employed as critical lens to analyze public health interventions and policies.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Distributive justice focuses on the fairness of outcomes and is recognizable in the (re)distribution of resources such as food aid. However, if redistribution comes with stigma attached, it still fails to address fairness in full, which can hamper uptake. Procedural justice focuses on the fairness of the process leading up to certain outcomes. Stakeholder engagement in policy development is an example, but avoiding tokenism is key for truly reducing unfairness. Finally, recognitive justice emphasizes recognition, human dignity and equal social participation. It might be most elusive to ‘catch’ in policy but is also most crucial to address unfairness completely.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Integrating social justice theory into public health strategies promotes fairness and contributes to of the reduction of health inequalities.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34141,"journal":{"name":"Public Health in Practice","volume":"10 ","pages":"Article 100630"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-25","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144548416","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Developing healthy attitudes to evidence through the Health Determinants Research Collaborations (HDRCs)","authors":"Simon E. Kolstoe","doi":"10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100627","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100627","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":34141,"journal":{"name":"Public Health in Practice","volume":"10 ","pages":"Article 100627"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144296395","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the essential programme on immunization and paving the way for the future of immunization in Central Africa","authors":"Franck Mboussou ,&nbsp;Audry Mulumba ,&nbsp;Celestin Traore ,&nbsp;Martin Morand ,&nbsp;Shalom Tchokfe Ndula ,&nbsp;Antoinette Demian Mbailamen ,&nbsp;Jean Claude Bizimana ,&nbsp;Charles Shey Wiysonge ,&nbsp;Benido Impouma","doi":"10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100628","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100628","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The Managers of the Essential Programme on Immunization (EPI) in Central Africa meet annually to review progress made, share experiences and lessons learned from the implementation of national immunization programmes. The 2024 annual meeting coincided with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the EPI. Indeed, the EPI has contributed significantly to increasing the number of vaccines included in national routine immunization schedules as well as the number of children vaccinated yearly, even though most countries are still off track towards achieving the 2030 immunization agenda targets. Disruptions of routine immunization caused by the COVID-19 pandemic resulted in increased burden of zero-dose children and under-immunized children. Leaders of Gavi Alliance agencies (WHO, UNICEF, and Gavi Secretariat) called for sustained efforts to ensure universal access to routine vaccinations as the 50th anniversary of the EPI in Central Africa was celebrated. It is critical to learn from 50 years of routine immunization service delivery and pave the way toward a more effective and efficient EPI.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34141,"journal":{"name":"Public Health in Practice","volume":"10 ","pages":"Article 100628"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144281006","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Comment on “Where does Hispanic Latin America stand in biomedical and life sciences literature production compared with other countries?”","authors":"Waseem Hassan ,&nbsp;Antonia Eliene Duarte","doi":"10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100611","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100611","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":34141,"journal":{"name":"Public Health in Practice","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100611"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144195600","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Response to “Comment on “Where does Hispanic Latin America stand in biomedical and life sciences literature production compared with other countries?”","authors":"Mario Alejandro Fabiani,&nbsp;Marina Banuet-Martínez,&nbsp;Mauricio Gonzalez-Urquijo,&nbsp;Gabriela Marta Cassagne","doi":"10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100612","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100612","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":34141,"journal":{"name":"Public Health in Practice","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100612"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-06-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144195601","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Implementation of health warnings on alcoholic beverages in Spain","authors":"Luis Sordo ,&nbsp;Jarileen Padilla-Cruz ,&nbsp;Marina Bosque-Prous ,&nbsp;Ainara Díaz-Geada ,&nbsp;Gregorio Barrio ,&nbsp;Aina Lafon-Guasch ,&nbsp;Judit Rogés ,&nbsp;Iñaki Galán","doi":"10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100622","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.puhip.2025.100622","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>The objective of this study is to estimate the frequency and characteristics of health warning labeling on alcoholic beverages in Spain.</div></div><div><h3>Study design</h3><div>Cross-sectional study conducted in Madrid, Spain, between March and April 2023.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>A convenience sample was designed by selecting four supermarket chains with a 40 % share of food distribution and two specialized alcohol stores. A total of 627 products were examined: 170 beers, 306 wines and sparkling wines, 68 liquors, 48 vermouths and aperitifs, and 35 other types of alcoholic beverages. Fisher's exact test statistically evaluated differences in labeling across beverage types.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>One or more health warnings were observed on 63.0 % of the products, with the most frequent being a recommendation against consumption during pregnancy (56.5 %), followed by recommendations against consumption by minors (19.0 %), and while driving (9.1 %). Only 9.1 % of the labels displayed two warnings, and 6.2 % displayed three. Significant differences were observed according to beverage type (p &lt; 0.001), with the beer products presenting the highest frequency of displaying at least one warning (81.8 %), and liquors presenting the lowest frequency (50 %).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>In Spain, alcohol industry's adherence to its own voluntary labeling guidelines of health warnings is low and inconsistent across type of beverages.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":34141,"journal":{"name":"Public Health in Practice","volume":"9 ","pages":"Article 100622"},"PeriodicalIF":2.2,"publicationDate":"2025-05-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144123637","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}